Vision Vancouver Ad Attacks Kirk LaPointe Over UBC Address

CBC

NPA

Just over two weeks out from the B.C. municipal elections, Vision Vancouver has taken things to a more personal level, releasing a radio ad attacking NPA mayoral hopeful Kirk LaPointe over his home address.

LaPointe lives on the campus at the University of British Columbia, which comes under Electoral Area A, which means he doesn't pay property taxes to the City of Vancouver. His work—at UBC and on the North Shore—is also not within city limits.

In the new ad, two women can be heard having a discussion about LaPointe's suitability for the role of Vancouver mayor, and call him "a big risk" partly because of his lack of residence and tax commitment to the city.

In a press release linking to the ad, Vision Vancouver council candidate Heather Deal criticized LaPointe for a recent statement she says he made on housing affordability and its relative importance in the civic debate.

“If Mr. LaPointe lived, worked, or paid taxes in Vancouver, he would understand that affordable housing and strong city services are top priorities in our city,” Deal said.

LaPointe denounces 'cheap tactics'

The NPA's mayoral candidate told CBC News he sees the attack by Vision Vancouver as a new low in the election campaign, and also as something not wholly unexpected.

"They've accused me of all sorts of things, but hey, this is the way they've rolled for six years, this is what we understand, this is what I expected," he told CBC News. "And hiring actors to make it sound authentic is just another way they mislead people."